Creative Tendring

Help Bring the Straw Beasts to Life

Creative Tendring & East Anglian Folklore Centre will be on site creating four spectacular Straw Beasts, wearable sculptures inspired by East Anglian folklore, local legends and traditional straw craft. Come along, meet the makers and help bring these extraordinary creatures to life.

The project marks the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain. For the 1951 festival, Essex straw craftsman Fred Mizen created two monumental sculptures for the celebrated Lion and Unicorn Pavilion. The lion represented realism and strength, while the unicorn stood for fantasy, independence and imagination. Mizen’s original sculptures no longer survive, but rather than recreate them, Creative Tendring is reimagining their spirit for Tendring today.

Working with the East Anglian Folklore Centre and local straw artists, the team will draw on techniques from corn-dolly making, thatching and straw plaiting to create a family of wearable straw mummers. These striking costume sculptures are inspired by the masked folk performers who once travelled from village to village, bringing stories, mischief and celebration.

Alongside a new lion and unicorn, the Straw Beasts will include St Osyth, legendary guardian of the priory. According to local folklore, the Anglo-Saxon abbess was beheaded after refusing to submit to Viking raiders. She then picked up her head and carried it to her final resting place, where a spring is said to have appeared.

St Osyth represents resilience, courage and our deep connection with the natural world.

Join Creative Tendring at the festival and help shape a new piece of Tendring folklore.